Unmissable events
Flower show August 4–7 RHS Garden Hyde Hall Flower Show ( right), Chelmsford, Essex. More than 60 specialist nurseries and trade stands plus beautiful displays, including those of Chelsea Flower Show medal winners (0845 265 8071; www.rhs.org.uk)
Exhibition Until September 18 ‘Beatrix Potter: Play and Childhood’ ( right), Mottisfont, Romsey, Hampshire. Marking 150 years since the birth of Beatrix Potter, there will be original drawings and watercolours as well as rare vintage dolls and figurines on show ( 01794 340757; www.national trust.org.uk/mottisfont)
Theatre August 12–September 4 Peter Pan in Scarlet, Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford. Stage adaptation of the sequel to J. M. Barrie’s classic tale, by Geraldine Mccaughrean—wendy and the Lost Boys, now grown up, return to Neverland for one last adventure (01865 305305; www.oxfordplayhouse.com) Quilt festival August 11–14 The Festival of Quilts, NEC, Birmingham. More than 300 exhibitors offering supplies and displays ( 0800 581 1289; www. thefestivalofquilts.co.uk) Country show July 26–28 New Forest & Hampshire County Show, The Showground, New Park, Brockenhurst. The Metropolitan Police Activity Ride, livestock competitions, flower displays and a crafted-wood exhibition plus 600 trade stands ( 01590 622400; www.newforestshow. co.uk)
August 3– 4 The Bakewell Show, The Showground, Bakewell, Derbyshire. Horses, livestock, artisan food producers, craftspeople and horticultural displays ( 01629 812736; www. bakewellshow.org)
August 13 The Ellingham and Ringwood Agricultural Society Show, Somerley Park, Somerley, Hampshire. From dressage, showjumping and heavyhorse displays to dog agility and donkey shows plus local produce (www. ellinghamshow.co.uk; 01425 476601)
August 13–14 Lowther Show, Lowther estate, Cumbria. Enjoy carriagedriving trials, the Taste Cumbria Food & Beer festival and the Lowther hound show (www. lowthershow.co.uk; 01889 563232) Cothay Manor, Greenham, near Wellington, Somerset TA21 0JR
July 31 1.30pm– 4.30pm. £7.50, children £ 3.75, plants for sale Hidden away on the Somerset/devon border, Cothay is one of the most atmospheric gardens in England. Encircling the memorable manor house—built at the end of the Wars of the Roses—its 12 acres have a structure of clipped hedges, paths and enclosures that date from the 1920s, onto which a really wonderful palette of planting has been gently added since the 1990s. Many herbaceous rarities take their place in different combinations. Visit www.ngs.org.uk